In search of fresh perspective, Sasha and I decided that a much needed trip along California’s Central coast was long over due. We set out to make the most of our day beginning with a 5am workout. The fresh morning air stings our lungs becoming more motivating and less daunting with every breath. We fight every inch of our body that called out for the warmth of our bed. Pushing through, we earn our morning meals. Following the work out, we immediately clean up, pack our lunches, grab Kobe’s backpack (which literally contains everything a dog may need for a day ANYWHERE) and set out for the ocean shore. 

This trip is one that we have made quite often, so we anticipate being “unplugged” for nearly the entirety of the trip which, anybody from Kern County knows, is all too familiar while traveling along the 46. 

We pass most of the time bouncing new concepts and ideas off of one another. Being that we are both very imaginative, you can understand how ambitious our conversations tend to be. Sosh pitches me ideas for further developing her education services while I discuss how we can extend our reach to the target audience. Boy bands and 90’s hip hop flood the airwaves as we continue to make our way from San Luis Obispo through Monterrey County heading towards McWay Falls, in Big Sur. Not too shabby for a Thursday morning.

Once we make our way up the 101 North, Siri decides our lives could use some oddity and had us cross through Fort Hunter-Liggett near Lake Nacimiento. It was truly remarkable and somehow eerie all the same. The land seemed preserved from construction. Although, it was absolutely breathtaking, the fact we came across one or two vehicles on this forty minute stretch of asphalt made it feel as if the world had truly left us to our own devices.

Once outside of Liggett, we entered the serene landscape of Los Padres National Forest. Words just can’t do the grandeur of the earths natural beauty justice. The road is winding with quite a few blind corners, but it was worth every second. The babbling of the creek, the rustling of the leaves, even the chirping of the birds seemed almost fabricated as if the hand of god created a moment just for us. 

We journey through this proverbial Garden Of Eden for another half an hour before we encounter 2019 and the rest of the world. The Pacific Ocean shimmering in the distance, we come upon McWay Falls and regretfully have to cut our #squad down by one because dogs aren’t allowed on the trail to the Falls (more specifically, the sign indicated Golden Retrievers aren’t allowed, so poor Kobe was two times as unlucky as any other dog this day) so Kobe stayed behind with his favorite toy and some snacks. 

McWay Falls is an absolute gem! The view from the top of the trail offers an ethereal glimpse of the waterfall as sparkling blue water cascades into the ocean. Captivated, we observe how the plant life thrives along the cliffs edge. In this moment, the cares of the world are carried away along the tide as it recedes into the Pacific existing only as white froth on the seashore. 

Before returning to our vehicle we ask a park ranger for the nearest dog friendly location. She gives us the name of an even more hidden location named Pfeiffer Beach. We make our way through more forestry and even cross a stream to reach this second hidden treasure. When we finally arrive, we grab our gear and immediately get blown away. The sand is PURPLE! 

I don’t mean the sand is iridescent under just the right light. I mean the sand appears as if someone has grabbed the very universe and strewn it across the shore. Kobe, who is no more interested in the color of the sand as he is with the stars in the sky, makes full use of this opportunity befriending any person who will pay attention to him. Sasha, who does the most Sasha thing imaginable, grabs an empty bottle to take some sand home to cherish forever. It makes me love her that much more. We decide to head towards Moonstone Beach, in Cambria, where dogs are even more loved. 

If you haven’t visited Cambria, it’s another must see on our list of all time favorite beaches. The name Moonstone refers to the translucent stones that can be found along the shore. We relieve Kobe of his leash and he plays until his heart is content. 

The evening unveils as we make our way South to Pismo Beach for dinner. We share an order of the worlds best fish and chips reviewing the events of the day. The small talks that lead us through the road trip, the silly jokes, and the sneak glances that help us appreciate one another. All in all, it’s been a great day. We pack it in for the day and make our way towards home. With our focus aligned and our goals in sight, we have nothing but open road and milestones ahead.